Mercer University
1-0
Bethune-Cookman
0-1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cox, Austin (1-0)
L: Tyler Norris (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Nate Sterijevski 1
HR: Danny Rodriguez 1 ; Nate Sterijevski 1
RBI: Joseph Fernando 2 ; Danny Rodriguez 1 ; Jameel Edney 1 ; Nate Sterijevski 2 ; Josten Heron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Adonis Lao 1 ; Danny Rodriguez 1 ; Jameel Edney 1 ; Nate Sterijevski 1 ; Zach Spivey 1 ; Josten Heron 1 ; Chase DeBonis 1
SB: Zach Spivey 1
Batting:
2B: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Posas, David 1 ; Michie, Brandon 1
HR: Michie, Brandon 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1
RBI: Hanson, Alex 2 ; Posas, David 1 ; Thomas, JT 1 ; Michie, Brandon 4 ; McDermott, Sean 3 ; Crotty, Alex 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1
SF: Yeager, RJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Alex 2 ; Posas, David 1 ; Thomas, JT 2 ; Michie, Brandon 2 ; Ware, Jackson 2 ; Bassett, Le 1 ; McDermott, Sean 2 ; Crotty, Alex 1
SB: Ware, Jackson 1
HBP: Thomas, JT 1 ; Michie, Brandon 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Crotty, Alex 1
Game Leaders
Mercer Claims Season Opener Over Bethune-Cookman
2/17/2018 10:26:00 AM | Baseball
Early offense powers Bears to eighth straight win on opening day
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Junior transfers Brandon Michie (2-for-4) and Sean McDermott (2-for-4) combined for two home runs, seven runs batted in and four runs scored while junior left-hander Austin Coxstruck out eight batters over a pre-determined limit of four innings pitched to earn the victory.
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Michie, a native of Brisbane, Australia, gave Mercer (1-0) the early lead with a three-run blast from down under in the first inning. The Bears would lead, 11-0, heading into the fourth, after they tacked on eight runs with seven hits in the third, highlighted by consecutive RBI knocks by Alex Hanson (two-run single), David Posas (RBI-double) and JT Thomas (RBI-single).
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Cox recorded all eight of his strikeouts through the first three frames and limited Bethune-Cookman's (0-1) lineup to just three hits until the fourth inning, when he allowed four runs before exiting the contest.
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Bethune-Cookman would climb back with six runs over a two-inning frame in the fourth and fifth, but Mercer's bullpen would record 11 consecutive outs up until the ninth to close the door.
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Player of the Game
Michie set the tone Friday with his first-inning blast and third-inning double. The two extra-base hits brought in the first four runs of the game.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Austin Cox (1-0)
» Loss: Tyler Norris (0-1)
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Record Update
» Mercer: 1-0
» Bethune-Cookman: 0-1
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Bethune-Cookman (2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Bethune-Cookman: At Mercer (2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
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Notables
» Mercer has won on opening day eight straight years dating back to the 2011 season.
» The Bears have won seven straight against Bethune-Cookman, pushing lead in the all-time series to 11-6.
» Zach Graveno and Sawyer Gipson-Long combined for six strikeouts over five innings of relief.
» Not to be outdone by the new Bears, JT Thomas reintroduced himself with a 3-for-4 performance while adding two runs scored and one RBI.
» David Posas earned his first career start in left field. He went 1-for-5 with one RBI.
» Three of the four Mercer newcomers to earn starts recorded at least one hit.
» Jordan Ammons notched his first career hit with an infield single in the eighth.
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Follow the BearsÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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